Recharge Your Business in 2013 - Business Strategies Newsletter Dear LinkedIn Connection, 2012 was a unique year. Often is when a presidential election is a top of mind concern. That said, now that it's wound down, 2013 provides us with a clean slate. It's a great time to refocus on business. Consider how you and your business can make positive, new strides. Maybe it's even time to embrace valuable, perhaps untried, strategies others are already successfully utilizing. Whether that means developing a new product or service, trying a new Social Media Marketing Service, social media marketing method, creating content or trying a branding method, with the year emerging it's time to seriously begin considering your options. In todays unique and competitive world, your business needs to be, and stay, current. To avail itself of those technologies and services which help brand it and keep it thriving. Don't put it off. Start now deciding what your business needs to give it that jumpstart. Here's to a successful, profitable, healthy New Year for you and your family. Jean L. Serio Womens Marketing and Business Network Goal Setting Ringing in the year brings thoughts of setting new goals. To most, it's arrival stimulates the thinking process which leads to considering steps that help build their business or life. Bring greater financial and personal rewards and freedom. Health and happiness for them and their family. 5 tips for Recharging your business in 2013: 1. Get your priorities in better order: Time management is a bugaboo for most. Wasting it can lose everything from cash to clients. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Write down what you believe are your highest priorities. That done, take an added 10 min. to refine the list. Review your list daily, crossing off anything accomplished. 2. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses: "Lead with your strengths" the old adage says. Then outsource the rest. 3. Be constantly building better connections: Build new connections on LinkedIn, join a local group, ask clients for referrals. If you haven't already, introduce yourself to LI connections with a well crafted email. 4. Try 2 new marketing strategies: Aside from Facebook and Twitter, there are dozens of viable social and other marketing networks. Do some research. Decide which can raise your biz visibility, add sales. 5. Take time to recharge: Downtime is the best way to recharge, both professionally and personally. Relaxing, away from your biz and text messaging, allows you to gain fresh perspectives and new inspiration. LinkedIn Endorsements - Useful or Not? With the Testimonial section of LinkedIn now limited to two visible comments, it's more important than ever, say experts, to get clients to endorse you. When LinkedIn recently introduced it's new "Endorsements" section, some went ballistic, saying it was worthless. Others thought it another great, free strategy for marketing themselves and other pros. "The best way to appreciate the value of Endorsements is to browse people's profiles" says David Berkowitz, vice president of emerging media for digital marketing agency 360i. A quick perusal of a your own endorsements gives someone viewing your page a list of the top skills you're known for. While similar to recommendations, it's easier and less cumbersome to use. This doesn't give any less credence to your Profile Summary. In fact, LinkedIn says your Profile is of more importance, now, with the recent changes requring you to use search engine optimization to get visitors to your page. Endorsements simply makes it easier for others to help you shine. You may be active on LinkedIn Groups, Answering Questions, for example. And someone wants to thank you for sharing your expertise by endorsing you. Endorsing is also a great way to help others shine, connect and reconnect. Full Article: "Not So Fast - An Endorsement for LinkedIn's Endorsements" by David Berkowitz http://mashable.com/2013/01/08/linkedin-endorsements-are-good/ Some words of wisdom from Ben Franklin: "Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor." "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."